UK: Inflation rate rises to 3.5% in September

London, Oct 21 (KUNA) -- Official data showed on Wednesday that the UK’s consumer price index inflation rate rose by 0.4 percentage points in September, reaching 3.5 percent, up from 3.1 percent in August, marking its highest level since October of last year. The Office for National Statistics attributed this unexpected rise in inflation to persistent pressures on oil prices, particularly car fuel, which hit record levels and pushed transport and travel costs up by 6.6 percent on a monthly basis, from 4.6 percent. The report indicated that energy and fuel prices were the main drivers of the inflation increase, while other sectors contributed marginally, including communications, which rose by 0.5 percent on a monthly basis, and household services and goods, which increased by 0.2 percent. Conversely, food prices remained stable in September at 1.3 percent, while tobacco and alcohol prices fell by 0.2 percent. Hotel and restaurant prices also declined by 0.3 percent. The UK energy market has been significantly affected since the outbreak of the war with Iran in late February, as rising oil and gas prices have increased household costs. For the first time, diesel prices surpassed the two-pound sterling (2.67 US dollars) per liter mark. (End) M.R.N. / M.Kh.